Key Charging Terms

Key charging terms

JARGON BUSTER

Electric vehicle charging information can often seem baffling, full of complicated sounding terms and technical lingo. So here is a clear and easy to understand glossary to help you know your kW from your kWh.

EXPLORE CHARGERS AND CONNECTORS

KW Vs KWH

Charging power for electric cars is measured in kilowatt (kW) and the capacity of your battery is measured in kilowatt-hour (kWh).

So, for example, the Nissan LEAF has a 39kWh battery. To fully charge it with a 7kW AC charger it takes around 7½ hours considering the charger specifications, together with the vehicle on-board charger use of Battery Boost or Power Management.¹

TETHERED VS UNTETHERED

Essentially, tethered home chargers have a fixed cable attached that can't be removed from the charger. Untethered chargers have a detachable cable that can be taken out of the charger and stored in the car or at home.

All new Nissan electric vehicles come with a detachable cable to ensure that you can charge on the go, but most customers choose a tethered home charger so that they do not have to detach it and pack it away when they are not charging at home.

TYPES OF CURRENT

There are two types of electric current. AC which stands for alternating current and DC which stands for direct current. The power that comes from the grid is always AC. However, batteries like the one in your electric vehicle can only store power as DC. That's why most electronic devices have a converter built into the plug, which turns AC into DC.

When it comes to electric vehicles, the converter is built inside the vehicle and it converts power from AC to DC as it feeds it into the car’s battery. This is the most common charging method for electric vehicles today and most chargers use AC power.

There are DC chargers which have the converter inside the charger itself. That means it can feed power directly to the car's battery and doesn't need the onboard charger to convert it. DC chargers are typically larger and faster, and the majority of public charging points are DC.

LET'S EXPLORE CHARGERS AND CONNECTORS

	TYPE 2 AC Charging Chargers range between 3.5KW and 22kW, with Home chargers ranging between 3.5KW to 7kW Available at some public charging points	CHADEMO DC rapid charging Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers Available at the majority of public charging points	CSS DC rapid charging Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers Available at the majority of public charging points
ARIYA	✓	X	✓
LEAF	✓	✓	X
Townstar EV	✓	X	✓

TYPE 2

AC Charging
Chargers range between 3.5KW and 22kW, with Home chargers ranging between 3.5KW to 7kW
Available at some public charging points

CHADEMO

DC rapid charging
Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers
Available at the majority of public charging points

CSS

DC rapid charging
Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers
Available at the majority of public charging points

ARIYA

✓

LEAF

✓

Townstar EV

✓

	TYPE 2 AC Charging Chargers range between 3.5KW and 22kW, with Home chargers ranging between 3.5KW to 7kW Available at some public charging points	CHADEMO DC rapid charging Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers Available at the majority of public charging points	CSS DC rapid charging Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers Available at the majority of public charging points
ARIYA	✓	X	✓
LEAF	✓	✓	X
Townstar EV	✓	X	✓

TYPE 2

AC Charging
Chargers range between 3.5KW and 22kW, with Home chargers ranging between 3.5KW to 7kW
Available at some public charging points

CHADEMO

DC rapid charging
Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers
Available at the majority of public charging points

CSS

DC rapid charging
Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers
Available at the majority of public charging points

ARIYA

✓

LEAF

✓

Townstar EV

✓

	TYPE 2 AC Charging Chargers range between 3.5KW and 22kW, with Home chargers ranging between 3.5KW to 7kW Available at some public charging points	CHADEMO DC rapid charging Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers Available at the majority of public charging points	CSS DC rapid charging Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers Available at the majority of public charging points
ARIYA	✓	X	✓
LEAF	✓	✓	X
Townstar EV	✓	X	✓

TYPE 2

AC Charging
Chargers range between 3.5KW and 22kW, with Home chargers ranging between 3.5KW to 7kW
Available at some public charging points

CHADEMO

DC rapid charging
Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers
Available at the majority of public charging points

CSS

DC rapid charging
Can range from 24kW - 350kW rapid chargers
Available at the majority of public charging points

ARIYA

✓

LEAF

✓

Townstar EV

✓

EV FAQ

All your questions answered

What type of chargers are available for Electric vehicles?

Electric Vehicles can be charged in three different ways.

An EVSE cable can be used to charge your car, utilising electricity from the mains. Nissan recommends that this is done from a 3-pin plug socket on an isolated circuit installed by a certified electrician.

You can charge your car using an AC Charger. These chargers can be installed into your home or garage, or can be found at workplaces or communal buildings. These chargers can deliver up to 22kW of power.

You can use a rapid charger, which uses DC current to charge your vehicle. These chargers are typically found at motorway service stations to give you the most amount of charge as quickly as possible. For today's Nissan vehicles you can receive up to a maximum of 130kW of power.

How do I find nearby EV chargers?

It's always good to know if there's a charger nearby for peace of mind. If your car is equipped with NissanConnect Services and the inbuilt Navigation system, you can search for and see details of different charging locations through your infotainment screen. For more information on NissanConnect Services, please visit the page here

You can also use services like your mapping software on your phone, or through other services like Zapmap to help you plot your journey.

How do I get an electric charging point at home?

Home Charging is a great way to top up your electric vehicle at the most convenient time. Speak to your local dealer for more details on the next steps.

How long is the warranty on the battery?

For the Nissan ARIYA and LEAF, you will have an 8 year or 100,000 miles battery state of health guarantee, protecting you if your battery capacity falls below 9 out of 12 bars within this duration. Find out more here

Do Electric vehicles have gears?

Electric vehicles do not require gears as this is all taken care of by an electric motor that powers the wheels. This means an overall smoother drive.

What is a kilowatt (kW)?

A kilowatt (kW) is a unit of measurement used to measure the electric motor power output. Similar to traditional combustion engines that use horsepower to measure output, the higher the figure the more power you have at your disposal.

What is a kilowatt hour (kWh)?

A kilowatt hour (kWh) is how much energy is needed to run the vehicle for 1 hour at a given consumption rate.

If you have a more powerful motor you will consume energy faster.

Can you drive long distances in an electric vehicle?

Electric vehicles have become more advanced over the years and with our advancements comes an increase in range on a full charge. This coupled with an ever-growing network of public chargers means you can drive your vehicle on the majority of journeys. Visit the Nissan model pages for ARIYA, LEAF and TOWNSTAR to find out more.

What's the difference between AC and DC charging?

Alternating Current (AC) is what's used when you plug into a Home Charger, Domestic outlet or Public charger. This has to be converted by the vehicle to Direct Current (DC) to charge the battery. AC charging is slower than DC charging.

Direct Current (DC) is what's used when you plug into a Rapid Charger usually at a public charging station. DC chargers operate at higher power ratings than AC and support a faster charge. This allows power to go straight to the battery without the need to convert it, meaning a much faster charge.

The easiest way to understand the speed of a charger is to look for the power rating, the higher the number e.g. "100 kW" the faster the potential rate of charge. Charge speed may vary depending on battery condition, state of charge, temperature & additional factors.

Take The Next Steps

¹ Charging time may vary depending on charging conditions, including charger type and condition, on-site power usage, battery temperature as well as ambient temperature at point of use, battery age and state of charge, and if battery safeguarding technology is activated.